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May 31, 2006

G51: Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 6

We saw (finally) Ted Lilly pitch like he does against the rest of the league; Ortiz, Loretta, Nixon and Ramirez hit home runs; and David Pauley threw four decent innings before having a bit of a meltdown in the fifth.

Pauley was aided by double plays to end each of the first three innings. In the fifth, with a 7-2 lead, he walked the leadoff man. After getting one out, he surrendered three singles and a triple. Terry Francona left Pauley out at least a batter or two too long, seemingly hoping he could shut the door against the bottom third of the Jays order. (And get his five innings in and qualify for the win.)

He could not, however, and was pulled after letting Toronto cut the lead to 7-6. The quartet of Van Buren (who got two outs in the fifth to strand the tying run at third), Delcarmen (1.2 IP, 0 H), Foulke (a perfect eighth 8th) and Papelbon (leadoff single, then three outs for his 19th save) allowed only two hits and one walk over the final 4.2 innings.

Moronic Media Moments: With JT Snow batting in the eighth, Jamie Campbell, the Jays play-by-play guy, informed us that Snow has not had much playing time with the Red Sox this season "and has suggested that a change of venue might be a good idea". ... Snow's request was in the May 18 papers; his subsequent statement that he's happy to stay in Boston was printed May 24 -- seven days ago. Nice prep work, Jamie.

Also, Pat Tabler, Campbell's partner, after Catalanotto was thrown out on a close play at first base: "I don't know if they got that 'tie goes to the runner' thing ..." The Jays are off tomorrow, Pat, why don't you read the rule book.

The Yankees beat Detroit 6-1, so both New York and Boston are 31-20. Toronto is 29-23, 2.5 games out.

Pauley, a 22-year-old righthander, was 2-3, 2.39 in 10 starts for Portland (AA). In 60.1 innings, he has allowed 54 hits and 17 walks, while striking out 47. Pauley has not pitched in AAA. ... He came over from San Diego in December 2004 with Jay Payton and Ramon Vazquez in the Dave Roberts trade.

Pauley mixes an excellent sinker with a low 90s fastball with good movement, a good changeup, and a top-notch curveball. Has 4th or 5th starter potential. Has been very consistent in recent seasons, with some flashes of brilliance. ... Needs to improve his control somewhat.

Pauley was an eighth round pick in 2001 and has a 3.78 ERA in six minor league seasons. Here's SoSH Adopt-A-Prospect thread on Pauley. ... Andrew (of the 12eight blog) has a piece on Pauley at Fire Brand.

Pauley: "Pure excitement. Obviously, I was shocked at first. It took me a few minutes to come down and realize what was going on. Biggest point in my life."

Terry Francona: "We didn't think it would bother his progression. We have a day off [Thursday]. It's not like he has to go eight. And hopefully some unfamiliarity with him will get him through. We think he can handle a start or two or whatever it ends up being." ... A second start would be next Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

Pauley got the nod when David Wells went on the disabled list for the third time this season. Francona said he told Wells after an aborted throwing session "'Seems to me that if you thought you could pitch you'd be yelling at me.' And he says, 'Yeah.' So it made it painfully obvious to me that that was the move to make." ... Wells could return for a June 11 start against Texas.

The other possibilities for tonight's spot start were Abe Alvarez and Craig Hansen. Alvarez would have been pitching on his normal rest, but the Jays have hit lefties at a .340 clip this year. Although Alvarez hadn't spent the required 10 days in the minors after being sent down May 22, putting Wells on the DL would have voided that rule. Hansen threw four innings on Saturday (in only his third minor league start) and would have been pitching on three days rest.

Absent any emperical, statistical, or mystical reasoning, we win a big G51 in a match-up that pitted a proven Sox-killer, Lilly, against our newbie, Pauley, whose line on the evening (4.1 IP 11H 6R 6ER 3BB 3SO 0HR 12.46ERA) may have evoked more comparisons to Jane than David.

The kid pitched his heart out, and if for no other reason than that should get another chance to see what he can do before he's shipped back to the bushes. However, last night's performance against a Wells-less TOR cannot and should not warrant making his next start on Tuesday night at NYY.

Throwing him into this crucible after such a shaky start would be incomprehensible. Instead, Tito should give him another look against TEX in the upcoming 4-game 'stand, or on the road against a less formidable foe in a park whose denizens arrive thirsty for baseball rather than human sacrifice.